Bose Sport Open Earbuds – new open-ear sport buds
Bose’s new Sport Open Earbuds sit on top of your ear, so you can hear everything around you while working out.
Bose round off their true wireless earbuds line up with Sport Open Earbuds. Joining their top of the line QuietComfort Earbuds, which offer ANC at a hefty $279 price tag, Bose Sport Earbuds, in-ear buds that drop the ANC for $179 (currently on sale for $159), and Bose Sleepbuds II, an updated sleep focused pair for $249.
Unlike the other three true wireless earbuds, Bose Sport Open Earbuds feature an open-design so you don’t block the outside world while running. The open-ear headphones hook to the top of your ear instead of going in your ear canal. The hook is molded to follow your ear’s natural curves. This paired with a matte finish ensures the buds stay comfortable and secure during rigorous exercise. Bose OpenAudio technology fires the music down towards the canal “to produce high-quality sound without covering your ears”, rather than using bone conduction, that can cause a vibrating sensation. How much these buds bleed remains to be seen.
Inside the buds are two 16mm drivers and Bluetooth 5.1 for a stable connection at up to 30ft/9m. An advanced mic system is enabled by two microphones on the right bud, giving you crystal-clear calls. An impressive 8-hour battery life in the buds between charges will last for the longest of workouts or a typical full work day. A 30 minute top up will provide 3 hours of extra life. Included in the box are a charging case and magnetic charging base. The charging base is an interesting addition and could prove helpful on your desk.
Bose Sport Open Earbuds are IPX4 weather-resistant, which will ensure you are protected from rain, snow and sweat, but aren’t to be used for swimming. Weighing in at just 14 grams per bud, the Sport Earbuds are lightweight.
Control on the earbuds can play, pause and skip music, as well as power the buds, answer calls and use Siri or Google Assistant. Controls, settings and customization can be adjusted in the Bose Music app. Unfortunately, Bose Sport Earbuds can only be connected with one device at a time, which can make switching device cumbersome.
Pre-orders are open in the US and Canada for $199.95 USD or $249.99 CAD. Shipping starts January 20. According to Twitter, there are “limited quantities”, which suggests this is somewhat of a test run to see how popular the buds are before a full worldwide roll out.
For more open-style music, check out Bose Frames and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live.